Chrysanthemum plant named Empire Cheyenne

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named Empire Cheyenne, characterized by the combined characteristics of orange-bronze ray florets; fully double flowers with no disc florets; 4.5 to 5.0 cm capitulum diameter; seven week flower response in light/shade programs; natural season flowering date of September 20, and compact cushion habit.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum, botanically known as Dendranthema grandiflora, andreferred to by the cultivar name Empire Cheyenne.

Empire Cheyenne is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new Chrysanthemum cultivars having compact cushionhabit, early flower response in natural season conditions, orange-bronzedecorative flowers, free branching habit, and adaptability for bothgarden and greenhouse cultures.

Empire Cheyenne was originated from a hybridization made by the inventorJanet S. Fuess in a controlled breeding program in New Hartford, N.Y. inSeptember 1988. The female parent was identified as E86-42 and primarilycharacterized by its pompom flower type and orange ray floret color. Themale parent of Empire Cheyenne was Gold Rush, disclosed in U.S. PlantPat. No. 7,724, and generally characterized by its multiplex daisyinflorescence and its honey bronze ray floret color.

Empire Cheyenne was discovered and selected as one flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated parentage by the inventor in August1989 in a controlled environment in New Hartford, N.Y.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Empire Cheyenne wasaccomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initialselection in October 1989 in a controlled environment in New Hartford,N.Y. by a technician working under formulations established andsupervised by the inventor. Horticultural examination of selected unitsinitiated in August 1990 has demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for Empire Cheyenne are firmly fixedand are retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Empire Cheyenne has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and daylength,without, however, any variation in the genotype. The followingobservations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown inOxnard, Calif. under natural outdoor conditions which approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Empire Cheyenne which in combinationdistinguish this Chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar.

1. Bright, orange-bronze ray florets which exhibit a slightly darkershade at the tips of the florets.

2. Fully double flowers; no disc florets are present.

3. Fully expanded ray florets are approximately 2.0 cm long and 0.8 cmwide, with tri-dentate tips.

4. Average of 220 ray florets per flower.

5. Capitulum is 4.5-5.0 cm in diameter.

6. A 7 week flower response in light/shade programs.

7. Performs well in the outdoor garden, flowering early (September 20)in natural season.

8. Compact cushion habit, making it suitable for production in 4" to 8"containers.

9. Adaptability to either greenhouse or garden cultures.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to Empire Cheyenne is Mirage, disclosed in U.S.Plant Pat. No. 6,388. In comparison to Mirage, Empire Cheyenne has alarger, more truly decorative type flower, an orange flower color(compared to the bronze ray florets of Mirage), a distinctive darkeningat the tips of the ray florets, is more freely branching and sizes upbetter than Mirage, and flowers five day later than Mirage in naturalseason. The button-like (firm) texture and seven week response time inlight/shade programs of Empire Cheyenne are similar to those samecharacteristics of Mirage.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andfoliage characteristics of Empire Cheyenne, with colors being as nearlytrue as possible with illustrations of this type. The top illustrationis a color photo comprising a top perspective view of Empire Cheyennegrown in a pot. The bottom illustration is a photo comprising a top viewshowing in greater detail buds and open flowers of Empire Cheyenne.

In the following description color references are made to the The RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart. The color values were determinedbetween 2:00 and 4:00 PM on Sep. 16, 1993 under 4,000 foot candles lightintensity at Oxnard, Calif.

Classification:

Botanical.--Dendranthema grandiflora cv Empire Cheyenne.

Commercial.--Garden and greenhouse mum.

INFLORESCENCE

A. Capitulum:

Form.--Decorative.

Diameter across face.--4.5-5.0 cm.

B. Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Orange.

Color (upper surface).--169A at tip; 170A at mid-floret.

Color (under surface).--170A at tip; 162B at mid-floret.

C. Corolla of disc florets: None.

D. Reproductive organs:

Androecium.--None.

Gynoecium.--Present on ray florets; style 0.4 cm and bifurcated.

PLANT

A. General appearance:

Height.--24-28 cm, when grown to maturity in a 71/2" container.

B. Foliage:

Color (upper surface).--137B.

Color (upper surface).--137C.

Shape.--5 lobed.

Size.--Approximately 5.6 cm long and 3.5 cm wide.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plantnamed Empire Cheyenne, as illustrated and described.